Method of packing cylindrical containers



y 6, 1965 R. BERNAT, JR 3,192,682

METHOD OF PACKING CYLINDRICAL CONTAINERS Filed May 10, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet l 23 INVENTOR.

fi/c/m R0 554w: r JR July 6, 1965 R. BERNAT, JR

METHOD OF PACKING GYLINDRIGAL CONTAINERS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 10, 1962 INVENTOR. R/CHARD EZRA/147%? AGI/VT July 6, 1965 R. BERNAT, JR

METHOD OF PACKING CYLINDRICAL CONTAINERS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 10, 1962 INVENTOR.

III I'll IlllllL fi CHA R0 50PM; 71/2 United States Patent ()fi ice 3392,5 82 Patented July 6, 1965 3,192,682 METHOD OF PACKENG CYLENDREQAL CONTAENERS Richard Bernat, Ilia, Yonkers, N.Y., assignor to Snaponiatic, End, a corporafion of New York Filed May 1%, 1962-, Ser. No. 193,7'7t) 4 Clm'ms. (Cl. 53-32) The present invention relates to a method of and to an apparatus for packing cylindrical containers and, more specifically, to a method of and apparatus for packing containers, such as beer cans, in flexible, plastic receptacles of original and unconventional design.

Packing of cylindrical containers, such as beer cans, heretofore, has been effected by compacting and enclosing within a cardboard or similar receptacle a number, generally six, of individual containers. This procedure, while facilitating considerably the handling of said containers and increasing the marketability of certain products, nevertheless has certain attendant disadvantages, which industry has long been attempting to overcome and the present invention has succeeded in eliminating.

One of the disadvantages of the known art resides in the fact that the containers are substantially fully hidden within the enveloping and opaque receptacles, necessitating, therefore, additional printing operations on the outer surface of the cardboard receptacle to identify and advertise the content thereof.

Another disadvantage of the prior packaging methods lies in the physical effort required in removing the cylindrical containers from the package, especially the centrally located ones. The pressure to be applied by the human hand to overcome the resistance oifered by the mechanically-sealed receptacle is, oftentimes, excessive.

A further disadvantage attendant the prior art is the cost of packaging the containers. This factor has drastically limited not only the variety of merchandise which could be packed in such a manner, but also the num er of containers to be sold as a packaged unit. Therefore, it can be readily seen that it becomes quite desirable to provide for a method of packing the most varied types of canned goods, at a minimum cost and in units other than the conventional six-pack.

it is, therefore, the main object of the present invention to provide a novel and original method for economically, simply and readily packing any even number of conventional cylindrical containers.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a method for packing cylindrical containers, which eliminates the expensive necessity of additional printing operations on the receptacle proper.

A further object of the invention is to provide a method of packing cylindrical containers in such a manner that their removal from the receptacle is rendered simple and effortless.

Still another object of this invention is to provide apparatus suitable for carrying out the inventive method of packing cylindrical containers.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description and from the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a typical, flexible receptacle of the type disclosed and claimed in United States pending patent application Serial Number 63,580, filed on October 19, 1960, Gerald T. Erickson inventor;

FIGURE 2 shows in perspective view a typical machine suitable for eifecting the operations required by the method of the present invention; and

FIGURES 3 through 6 illustrate the various operational steps of the method of the invention, as hereinafter more fully described.

Some of the characteristic features of the method of the present invention render it applicable to packing of cylindrical containers in a particularly shaped receptacle of the type disclosed in the aforementioned United States application, that is, a receptacle which has as main components thereof a central dividing webbing and at least one pair of container-holders, which are perforated, are capable of being pivoted on one axis, and are so formed as to ultimately hold and support firmly the containers. A typically suited receptacle is shown in FIGURE 1, although many variations thereof are possible and within the capability of a person skilled in the art.

The receptacle 11 may be made of any material which possesses the necessary physical properties, namely, strength, resiliency, flexibility, and lightness in weight. Many conventional plastic materials are ideally suited for this purpose, for they also possess additional advantages such as, for example, water repellancy. As shown in FIGURE 1, the receptacle 11 comprises a handle 12 for carrying the ultimately packed product, a number of container-holders l3, fixedly connected to both handle 12 and holders 13, is conventionally shaped as a reticle for maximum strength and has a height substantially corresponding to the height of the containers to be packed. Each holder 13 is centrally perforated at 15, comprises an embossed collar 16, and a number of embossed ribs 17. The ribs 17 concentrically and preferably equally spaced therearound, suitably symmetrically located with respect to the collar 16, are adjoining to the collar, the distance between a rib and the collar being somewhat less than the thickness of the conventionally protruding edge 13 of the container 19, for proper insertion thereof and the embossing of the ribs and the collar being sufiicient to firmly hold therebetween the containers. The ribs 17 may be visualized as mere embossed dots; however, in order to impart to the holder a greater degree of rigidity, substantially larger ribs, such as shown, are preferable. Each holder 13 is connected to the webbing 14, for example, as shown at 29, by a short strip of webbing to constitute the axis of the holder, so as to ensure the proper pivoting action of the holder. If six containers are to be packed, the number of holders in the receptacle is four. However, if only four containers are to be packed, two holders are sufiicient. This can be understood by visualizing in FIG- URE 1 of the drawings three containers adjoining one another and superimposed with their long axis on webbing 14 between the four holders shown in the figure, the middle container being centrally positioned with respect to the four holders, and the two lateral containers being positioned substantially on the outside of the holders.

Each protruding edge 18 of a cylindrical container 19 can be firmly held and supported by simply forcing it between the collar 16 and at least one rib 17. It can be readily seen, however, that when six containers are packed as a unit, three on each side of the Webbing of the receptacle, the central containers are, by necessity of conerational steps, which are, taken in sequential order and in combination, the loading of the receptacles 11 one at a time, onto mechanically-operated pegs 21; the packing of one half of a number of containers 1% in the receptacle 11 during a controlled rotation of the pegs; the packing and a central webbing 14, which is amaesa of the remaining number of containers in the receptacle during an equally controlled counter-rotation of the pegs; and, finally, the discharging of the fully packed receptacle.

It must be clearly understood that the device shown in FIGURE 2 is an illustrative example of an apparatus suitable to carry out the above-listed main operational steps of the method of the invention. Numerous modifications of the various component parts of the illustrated device are easily derivable by a person skilled in the art, as it will be pointed out hereinbelow.

The first operational step, as already mentioned hereabove, consists of the loading of the receptacles, one at a time, onto mechanically-operated pegs. The number of pegs required and the relative position thereof with respect to one another corresponds to the number and position of holders in the receptacle. The pegs may be of any suitably desired cross-sectional shape; however, best results have been obtained by using pegs with a cross-sectional geometry corresponding to the geometry of the perforation 15 of the holders, as seen in FIGURES 2 to, 6. The length of the pegs should approximately terminate with the edge of the embossing in the holder and not protrude therebeyond, so as not to interfere with the outer surface of the containers. Furthermore, the outer diameter of the pegs. should preferably be only slightly-smaller than the inner diameter of the perforations 15 in the holder 13, in order to ensure maximum pivoting action and pressure application. Assuming that four pegs are needed, these may be employed by, for example, rigidly connecting them onto detachable units 22, such as shown in FIGURE 2, on an endless chain 23; however, they may be mounted on a reciprocating piston or they may be cam-operated.

In the starting position, the pegs are facing upwardly (see FIGURE 2) and receive one receptacle thereon from amagazine preferably mounted directly overhead the unit 22 and capable of discharging either by freefall or otherwise a receptacle at a time (not shown). The positioning of each individualreceptacle onto the pegs may be automatically controlled and regulated by means of a photoelectric mechanism. However, other means of delivery may be suitable, such as suction, sliding latches, sprockets or helical screws.

The supply of fresh receptacles need not be located directly above the pegs, although this configuration, shown in FIGURE 2, appears to facilitate the loading operation, but it may be laterally positioned with respect to the conduits 24, in which case the entire topographically planar position of the pegs 21, chains 23, conduits 24, unit plates 22, and wedges 3t) is shifted rotationally by ninety degrees. In this case, furthermore, the receptacles, instead of substantially free-falling onto the pegs, would have to be mechanically directed andpressed laterally thereagainst.

After the receptacle is loaded onto the pegs, these are caused to pivot on their axis, as shown in detail in FIG- URE 4. Laterally opposite pegs rotate in opposite directions, so as to bring the holders into position to receive the first containers. The pivoting motion may be caused, for example, by running the endless chain 23 through a conduit 24, having a channel 25 therein to guide the movement of the pegs. As shown in FIGURE 2, the channel 25 curves in predetermined positions to allow the loading of the containers to be effected in accordance with the method of the invention. When the pegs have rotated a certain number of degrees (FIGURE 4), usually about sixty degrees, mechanical means (not shown) deliver to the receptacle the predetermined number of containers. A typical means of delivery may be a conventional conveyor belt, the motion of which is synchronized with the motion of the pegs, so that the predetermined number of containers is discharged in proper position, when the rotation of the pegs has reached the predetermined angle, as shown, for example, at 26 in FIGURE 2. Other suitable means of delivering the containers, both during rotation and counter-rotation of the pegs may comprise sliding or rolling chutes, helical screws, link conveyors, chain conveyors or sloping racks.

Subsequently to the delivery of one half of the containers between the predeterminedly rotated pegs, the rotational motion of the pegs continues to an angle greater than ninety degrees (FIGURE 5), usually about to degrees depending partly on the flexibility of the receptacle. During this interval, the peg plate 22 automatically aligns the edges 18 of the containers and exerts the necessary pressure on the holders 13, to force the edges of the containers to snap in position between the embossed collar 16 and the appropriate ribs 17. The rotation of the pe 's continues beyond the ninety degree angle, in order to permit the proper delivery of the remaining containers on the opposite side of the central webbing 14, as shown in FIGURE 5. The means for delivering the second set of containers, such as at 28 in FIGURE 2, may be the same as that employed at 26, or may be different. The counter-rotational movement of the pegs back to a position of ninety degrees with the original pre-rotational position, shown in FIG- URE 3, forces the edges of the containers into juxtaposition between the embossed collars 16 and ribs 17.

As shown in FIGURE 6 of the drawings, after the containers 19 have been properly inserted in the holders 13, on each side of the central dividing webbing 14, the pegs 21 are mechanically withdrawn from the perforated holders, so as to permit the packaged unit to be removed. One typical means of withdrawing the pegs may be by means of properly adjusted wedgesfill, as shown in FIG- URE 2, located at the delivery end of the conduit 24. The function of these wedges is to deviate the course of the chains 23 in an outwardly direction, so as to allow the packaged containers to be freely removed by suitable means, such as conveyor belt 29 of FIGURE.

2. Other suitable means of disengaging the pegs from the holders may consist of can cylinders, magnetic cylin- .rers, hydraulic cylinders, airdraulic cylinders, vacuum devices or spring loaded mechanisms. It is fully recognized that, taken individually, the first (loading) and the fourth (discharging) steps of the operation, in accordance with the process of the invention, are capable of being effected in a multitude of manners and that, therefore, they should be considered in combination with the truly critical operation set forth in the two intermediate (second and third) prowdural steps.

It is understood that the various mechanical components of the apparatus, which have to perform the operational steps of the method of the present invention, may differ from the ones typically illustrated in FIGURE 2, depending on the speed of packing required, the weight and size of the containers employed, the desired position of the packing device for synchronized and time-saving coordination with pre-packing operations, and many others.

What is claimed is:

1. A method of packing and holding together as a unit an even-numbered plurality of cylindrically shaped, closed containers, having the peripheric edges thereof overextending perpendicularly to the circular surfaces adjoining thereto, comprising, in combination, providing a flexible receptacle having therein a carrying means, a central webbing and at least one pair of perforated container-holders having appropriately embossed elements thereon; causing a corresponding number of pegs to be preferably simultaneously inserted into the perforations of said holders, each of said holders and corresponding pegs being pivotable on one axis; rotating said inserted pegs on said one axis through an angle greater than ninety degrees and, subsequently, counter-rotating said inserted pegs on said same axis through an angle smaller than ninety degrees to a final position at right angle with the original pre-rotational position, the direction of rotation being clockwise for one-half of said.-

inserted pegs and counterclockwise for the other and opposite half of said inserted pegs; causing a first half of said plurality of containers to be contacted by and retained between some of said appropriately embossed elements of said holders on a first side of said central webbing during said rotation of said inserted pegs; causing the second half of said plurality of containers to be contacted by and retained between some others of said appropriately embossed elements of said holders on the side of said webbing opposite to said first side between said rotation and counter-rotation, and preferably during said counter-rotation, of said inserted pegs; and disengaging said inserted pegs from said holders for the proper removal of the container-filled receptacle.

2. Method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the number of said pegs to be inserted into the perforations of said holders is four.

3. Method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the number of said pegs to be inserted into the perforations of said holders is two.

4. A method of packing cans in six-can units comprising, in combination, providing a flexible plastic recep tacle having therein carrying means, a central webbing and four perforated can-holders having appropriately embossed elements thereon; mechanically inserting into each of said holders a peg, each of said holders and corresponding pegs being pivotable on one axis; rotating said inserted pegs on said axis through an angle of about degrees and subsequently counter-rotating said inserted pegs on said same axis through an angle of about 15 degrees to a final position substantially at right angle with the original pre-rotational position, the direction of rotation of two of said pegs being clockwise and that of the other and opposite two pegs being counterclockwise; inserting three cans between some of said appropriately embossed elements of said pegs on one side of said webbing during said rotating of the pegs; inserting three other cans between some others of said appropriately embossed elements of said pegs on the opposite side of said webbing between said rotating and counter-rotating, and preferably during said counterrotating of the pegs; and mechanically disengaging said inserted pegs from said holders for the proper removal of the can-filled receptacle.

No references cited.

FRANK E. BAILEY, Primary Examiner.

BROMLEY SEELEY, Examiner. 

4. A METHOD OF PACKING CANS IN SIX-CAN UNITS COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, PROVIDING A FLEXIBLE PLASTIC RECEPTACLE HAVING THEREIN CARRYING MEANS, A CENTRAL WEBBING AND FOUR PERFORATED CAN-HOLDERS HAVING APPROPRIATELY EMBOSSED ELEMENTS THEREON; MECHANICAL INSERTING INTO EACH OF SAID HOLDERS A PEG, EACH OF SAID HOLDERS AND CORRESPONDING PEGS BEING PIVOTABLE ON ONE AXIS; ROTATING SAID INSERTED PEGS ON SAID AXIS THROUGH AN ANGLE OF ABOUT 105 DEGREES AND SUBSEQUENTLY COUNTER-ROTATING SAID INSERTED PEGS ON SAID SAME AXIS THROUGH AN ANGLE OF ABOUT 15 DEGREES TO A FINAL POSITION SUBSTANTIALLY AT RIGHT ANGLE WITH THE ORIGINAL PRE-ROTATIONAL POSITION, THE DIRECTION OF ROTATION OF TWO OF SAID PEGS BEING CLOCKWISE AND THAT OF THE OTHER AND OPPOSITE TWO PEGS BEING COUNTERCLOCKWISE; INSERTING THREE CANS BETWEEN SOME OF SAID APPROPRIATELY EMBOSSED ELEMENTS OF SAID PEGS ON ONE SIDE OF SAID WEBBING DURING SAID ROTATING OF THE PEGS; INSERTING THREE OTHER CANS BETWEEN SOME OTHERS OF SAID APPROPRIATELY EMBOSSED ELEMENTS OF SAID PEGS ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF SAID WEBBING BETWEEN SAID ROTATING AND COUNTER-ROTATING, AND PREFERABLY DURING SAID COUNTERROTATING OF THE PEGS; AND MECHANICALLY DISENGAGING SAID INSERTED PEGS FROM SAID HOLDERS FOR THE PROPER REMOVAL OF THE CAN-FILLED RECEPTACLE. 